Couple donates easement for Oak Ridges Moraine

When David and Janet Fayle give out gifts, they do it right.

Their most recent gift includes 25 acres of outdoor trails, streams and a private golf course. The gift is a conservation easement donated to the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust and will benefit generations of people to come.

The Fayles live in Adjala-Tosorontio and own the 25.55-acre property on Concession Road 3, just south of Highway 9. The property is part of the Oak Ridges Moraine and home to a forest with a variety of tree species, running streams, and a golf course.

The Fayles decision to zone the land as a conservation easement ensures it will look this way for years to come.

David said it was their decision to donate the land. He said they chose an agreement with the Oak Ridges Moraine because there is too much uncertainty with politicians. Even if they had gone through the political process to rezone the land, he said depending on politicians in the future the decision could be overturned.

“There’s no long-term safeguard with zoning bylaws, whereas a conservation easement is extremely difficult to change,” he said.

David Fayle is a former professor in the faculty of forestry at the University of Toronto. He and Janet have been involved with conservation and heritage issues for a long time.

It was Janet’s parents who originally bought the property in 1947. At that time it had been cleared of trees for farming. Planting trees began in the 1950s and the careful maintenance of the environment grew from there.

The Fayles have owned the property since the early 1970s, using it as their weekend house.

In 1996 they moved to Adjala-Tosorontio permanently.

In 1991 they added the historical home the Stooks-Langstaff House from Richmond Hill onto the existing farmhouse. Today they own and operate The Farm UpCountry, a bed and breakfast, on the property.

Signing the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust agreement won’t change how they already use the land.

“We can continue to enjoy the property as we have before,” said David.

He explained the trails that exist can be maintained, but if new ones are considered the planning would have to be discussed with the land trust. The agreement also won’t affect selling the property, however new owners must follow the same conservation rules.

David said the reason for the donation is to help preserve the water quality and quantity of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust steward Bill McMartin said the Fayle property is very diverse.

“It’s is a microcosm of what is best about the Oak Ridges Moraine,” said McMartin.

Couple donates easement for Oak Ridges Moraine.